Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 777 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. This action requires repetitive detailed visual inspections to detect cracking of the cove skin on the outboard leading edge slats; a slat adjustment check; and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by reports of fatigue cracking and/or missing pieces of the cove skin on the outboard leading edge slats. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and correct such discrepancies, which could result in skin separation or structural damage to the leading edge slats, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.